Law Has Evolved Beyond Traditional Jurisprudence to Legisprudence — Okereke
Dr. Longinus Okereke
Legal luminary Dr. Longinus Okereke has stated that law has evolved beyond traditional jurisprudence to legisprudence, a field that examines how laws are created and the principles that should guide the legislative process.
This evolution moves beyond the conventional focus on the application of law by judges to include the creation of law by legislators.
Dr. Okereke, a recent PhD graduate from the prestigious Babcock University, revealed this insight during an interview with journalists at a reception held to celebrate his academic achievements.
The reception, which took place on July 28, 2025, in the Festac area of Lagos, was well attended by his business associates, friends, family members, community leaders, colleagues, and people from all walks of life.
Explaining his choice of specialization in Jurisprudence and Public Law, Okereke said, “Public law is an area without limits. It has no boundaries. If you consider current global issues related to corruption, international politics, and relations, you will realize that everything connects to public law. Bringing it back to Nigeria, you will see exactly what is happening. There is hardly a day when you open a newspaper or tune into a news channel without encountering stories about corruption.”
“Now we are talking about legisprudence. Law has evolved beyond traditional jurisprudence to legisprudence, which is why I evaluated the effectiveness of legislative responses to economic and financial crimes. We are now examining corruption from a legisprudential standpoint. My next research assignment will be to analyze corruption from a judicial standpoint. These are the directions in which law is evolving or has already evolved. Without research, one cannot comprehend that corruption has underlying theories, which can be traced and used to identify root causes and explain why failures occur,” .
“I have already published several articles. We collaborate with the university’s research faculty, which assesses recommendations and explores engagement strategies. Beyond the academic approach, this research aligns with my consultancy business. A position paper submitted to the EFCC or ICPC can have real-world impact. These recommendations identify loopholes in the laws, and if the government is serious, they will request more information. If deemed worthwhile, these issues can be pushed to the legislature, or the legislature might proactively engage in research-centered discussions.”
Reflecting on his attainment of a PhD, the highest academic degree awarded by universities, he said, “The feeling is indescribable. When you come from a long journey by that, I mean looking back at your life, family, and background and reach this level, it is the pinnacle of academic endeavor. It feels tremendous and truly beyond words.”
Looking ahead, the legal expert shared his future plans: “I am already a consultant and a lawyer. The next step is to consider how to give back to society. Whether we like it or not, society has been fair to us, and we must find ways to give back. This includes mentoring young people and adults and engaging in various forms of community involvement, either privately or publicly.”
He envisioned continuing his contribution to society through knowledge-based approaches, saying, “Lecturing is part of my giving back to society. Although not as a full-time paid lecturer, I intend to serve as a visiting lecturer. That is the objective — to give back.”
Speaking on the sidelines, Okereke’s daughter, Miss Chidindu Okereke, who also celebrated her graduation from the same university, thanked guests present at the occasion, giving God all the praise.
Miss Chidindu said, “I thank all the guests who have come to celebrate with us. I studied Computer Technology at Babcock University and graduated with a second class upper division. I feel very grateful because God saw me through the silent times, the projects, exams, and deadlines. God was with me, and my friends and family were there to support me. We shared the journey, and now I am here today, having graduated.”
Chidindu, who assured she will start her Master’s degree program after the NYSC, advised parents of growing children not to give up, emphasizing that “the effort put into training someone is always worth it.
Engr. Ik Akor, a close friend of Dr. Okereke, said, “Dr. Okereke has progressed through his service in various organizations such as General Electric and has amassed a wealth of experience from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, among others. I am delighted to see his success, both academically and professionally.”
His elder brother, Elder Victor Okereke, remarked that Dr. Okereke showed early signs of being a serious and determined individual. Elder Okereke added that their father had foreseen his son’s success and was not surprised by his achievements.
Another guest, Henry Mougoh, said, “This is a mark of honor for Longinus. He is a great man from a humble background. All his achievements are definitely due to God’s providence and his true dedication.”
Corroborating these sentiments, family member Mr. Kelo Okoli described Dr. Okereke as “an example of an achiever worthy of emulation.”
